Public institutions don't take donations in the UK? They certainly do in the US.

Since when are donations equal to corruption? I certainly wasn't claiming that.

They have a donation page and everything

https://www.britishmuseum.org/support-us/donate

The article explicitly says Thiel hasn't made a donation. So if it's not in exchange for a donation, why is he being put forward for this? Ie - is the director of the museum(or someone else) receiving some benefit under the table to make this happen?